Centre for Language and Communications Studies

Nehpets

With my JF information pack, there is a sheet which says I can do a language. German, Italian or Turkish at beginner level and German, French, Spanish and Irish at non-beginner level. (I assume beginner starts at complete beginner?) I have a few questions..

Has anyone done this? Would you recommend it?
Will it take up a lot of time?
Do the results of the tests matter in relation to my degree (CS)?

I have done german for the leaving cert but only got a C2. I would rather start at beginner level. I assume this would be ok?

sternn

I want to know the same sort of stuff. Im doing MSISS and probably doing an extra bit of Spanish. But the only thing thats putting me off is that its 7-9...which is a bit of a pain.

JC 2K3

I'm interested in this too. A French class once a week wouldn't be bad for me at all.

tolosenc

Where exactly was this? I want Turkish!

Nehpets

Just in the information pack. It's "in association with th faculty of engineering and system scienses, the centre for language and communication studies offers.... blah blah etc"

found this:
http://www.tcd.ie/Broad_Curriculum/languagemod/Course%20booklet%202007-08.pdf

JC 2K3

The pages were in the pack I got in the post. They said "TR033 Computer Science" on top of them but lower down it was described as; "Evening Language Modules for Students in Engineering and Systems Sciences".

Perhaps it doesn't apply to you since you're doing linguistics and a language already?

tolosenc

Bollox. I'll have a look.

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

It's a Broad Curriculum course (or functionaly equivalent) so basically, anyone can sign up for it (as far as I know). Some courses (like Computer Science) also force students to take it at some stage (ugh)

Anyway, I did intermediate German, in my opinion, it was a load of cack and I'd highly recommend anyone else not to take it. My standard of German was mediocre, got a HB3 in LC, and I took course in SF, and was probably in the lower half, possibly quarter of the class abilities wise, if that's any indication of the standards they want...beginner is probably starting from scratch though, so with the LC, there's probably little point in taking it.

Stargal

Nehpets wrote:

I have done german for the leaving cert but only got a C2. I would rather start at beginner level. I assume this would be ok?

There wouldn't be any point in you doing the beginner level tbh; it really is very basic and is intended for people who've never done any German at all. I did it in first year and it was about learning basic sentences like greeting people, asking simple questions, numbers and vocab stuff. I enjoyed it though; good course.

SamHamilton

I sent my form away to do the French classes. I have a good level of French but without practice it goes away pretty quickly so I think the classes will be useful. Plus, you can get up to 5% added onto a subject you're studying full time which is something I would gladly accept!:D

paperclip

5% added onto a subject you're studying full time? What's that all about?

SamHamilton

5% added onto a subject you're studying full time? What's that all about?

I don't know how it is for other courses but on the form it said that up to 5%, depending on how well I did on the course, would be added onto one of my TSM subjects. I don't know whether the same applies for other courses.

oconnoao

I did the French in JF. I wouldn't recommend it, I found the two hours a week really stressful and its all presentations through French. I got a HB1 and I was the weakest in the class. By the end of the year only 4 people were still doing it-2 of which were fluent speakers to begin with!

The only reason I would maybe do it is to get the extra mark, if you get a first you get 5% extra (science students anyway) which is just added to your average mark for the year. It brought me up a grade, of which I was thankful!

SamHamilton

I got a HB1 and I was the weakest in the class

Due to the difficulty of the course I bet you learnt a lot though. I drifted through 5th and 6th year French without learning anything because it wasn't hard enough so it'll be a welcome change.

By the end of the year only 4 people were still doing it-2 of which were fluent speakers to begin with!

Wow!:eek: And how many people started off? The French department in Trinity seems awful. I've read at least three separate threads about them.

I found the two hours a week really stressful and its all presentations through French.

Presentations...that should be cool. I love speaking French so that suits me down to the ground.

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

It was the same for Intermediate German, at the start the class was about 40+ people, by the time I left (a few weeks before Christmas) it had dwindled down to about 10 or so, of those most I spoke to had intentions of leaving. Can't imagine there were too many there at the end of the year.

Deadevil129

Hmm, just had a look at that sheet. I was kinda hoping there'd be beginners French. I wanna learn but I haven't a word, I did German for LC but I'm not that bothered about improving it.

Nehpets

I doubt I'll do this

dan719

Registered for German already- should be interesting, and an extra five percent could become very useful.